This summer, Brooklyn's 56th Assembly District launched its 2026 Bed-Stuy Sit-In Theater series at Hancock Community Backyard Park, bringing neighbors together for outdoor film screenings focused on Black history, resistance and political consciousness.
The series continued on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with "FUNDI: The Story of Ella Baker," a documentary about Ella Baker and her role in the Black Freedom Movement.
Ella Baker believed strong movements were built by ordinary people developing the power to lead themselves. Her organizing helped shape generations of activists and organizations, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Baker was also a friend and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.
The film series will continue on Aug. 29, at 324 Hancock St. with a screening of "The Black Power Mixtape," and will also premiere two more films in October.
Community Board 56 is also continuing its monthly Pathway to Paychecks Job Fair, connecting residents with employment opportunities and resources that can support greater economic stability.
The programming reflects Black August’s tradition of remembrance, political education and organizing while connecting that history to present-day community needs.
On Aug. 28, Age Friendly Central Brooklyn will join Bethany Baptist Church and the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote. The event coincides with the 63rd anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Black August will also include Black Breastfeeding Week, observed Aug. 25-31, highlighting breastfeeding equity, maternal health, lactation accommodations and efforts to reduce barriers facing Black mothers.
Together, the events connect historical reflection with civic participation, economic opportunity and community care.
